United States lawmakers revisited concerns of religious freedom in Nigeria during a hearing on the topic on Wednesday in Washington DC.
The hearing examined countries worldwide where the lawmakers say religious freedom is under threat, a characterisation Nigerian authorities have rejected.
Citing Genocide Watch, Chris Smith, house foreign affairs Africa subcommittee chairman, described Nigeria as “a killing field of defenceless Christians”.
“That wrong in our foreign policy has been righted with the President’s CPC designation. We commend and thank him for that action,” Smith said.
While the lawmaker commended Nigeria for taking “small steps” to improve religious freedom, he criticised the recent lobbying deals aimed at influencing the US government.
In December, Nigeria hired DCI Group, a lobbying firm, in a $9 million contract to assist in communicating its efforts to protect Christians to the US government.
The same month, Matthew Tonlagha, vice-chairman of Tantita Security Services, hired Valcour Global Public Strategy, a Washington-based lobbying firm, for the “purpose of strengthening the bilateral relationship” between the US and Nigeria.
Smith said the deals proved that “a culture of denial by Nigerian officials persists”.
“I am deeply concerned that Nigeria has hired the K-Street lobbying firm DCI to the tune of $9 million (that’s $750,000 a month) and a Nigerian billionaire has entered into a $120,000-a-month contract with Valcour to influence Congress and the Executive Branch,” he said.
“They hire these firms; they come up with their very well-written talking points to say nothing to see here, and unfortunately, how these firms are just so good at advocating for their client for religious freedom.”
Joaquin Castro, a lawmaker, questioned the effectiveness of the US strikes in Nigeria last year.
He accused the President Donald Trump administration of striking using a front of “protecting Christians” yet “cutting assistance that would actually address discrimination against religious communities”.
The lawmakers also debated Nigeria’s CPC redesignation, with some describing it as largely “name and shame” without direct consequences, while others said it helped refocus “attention on Nigeria”.
